selexa for depression

[Tom275]

Due to my back pain I have become depressed, a friend suggested selexa.  I use to take Lexapro, what is the difference?

[Tuckamore]

Hi Tom,

Welcome, I am glad that you found us at MedHelp. We chronic pain suffers often deal with situational depression from time to time. Some of us more than others and sometimes it can be severe depression. Often a physician will prescribe an antidepressant along with our opiates for several reasons. They can enhance the effects of the opiates as well as treat the depression we so often develop with chronic pain. I assmue you mean celexa and bot selexa. Drug nanes can be difficult to spell correctly, at least for me they can be.

First let me clarify that I am not a pharmacist, physician or and expert in medications. Your best and most accurate  advice will come form your physician. Lexapro is escitalopram and Celexa is citalopram and as you see from these generic names they are similar but not the same. One difference is that Celexa is available in generic form and Lexapro is not which means theoretically generic Celexa (generic form) should be less costly.

Lexapro and Celexa are not interchangeable, and they are not approved for all of the same uses.  Both are approved for the treatment of depression. However, only Lexapro is approved to treat anxiety.

Regarding the effectiveness of the two medicines, some studies have suggested that Lexapro may be more effective than Celexa for depression treatment, while others have not found significant differences between these two medications. And what works well for one may not work as well for another. While I am glad that your friend has found Celexa so effective it may not be as effective for you....or it may be.

Please discuss your depression and the available treatments with your physician. We will look forward to your updates. The members in our community are supportive and informational so please let us know how you are doing. Best of luck and as always, Take Care, Tuck

[nick30]

Hi Tom,
Your pharmacist can best answer this one.
But basically, they are both SSRI's(selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors)that are used to treat depression(and i think lexapro is also used to treat anxiety).
You shouldn't take any drugs based on the advice of a friend, best to consult with your dr.
I hope you find a way to deal with both your pain and depression.
I been there.

Nick.